Solving Real-World Data Management

Problems

Tobby HaglerSenior Developer

What doesDungeons &

Dragons have to do with Drupal?

Drupal & D&DReal-world data complexity issues

Difficult workflows to manage and codify

Contrib modules – scratch your own itch

D&D Character Module

Complicated forms and character management

Levels, classes, races, feats, skills, weapons, and equipiment – All have unique

properties

No D7 D&D Character sheet module…

D&D Characterand Learning Drupal 7Learning something new with a familiar subject

Solving a “real” need

Features module and Fields API

Learn a new language

“Hello World”

Manipulate user inputDisplay and manipulate input

D&D character generator

D&D DataManagement

PC Information•Race: Special abilities, bonuses and penalties, feats•Class: Extra skills and feats, spells, or limitations•Skills: Cross-class, ranks•Feats: Prerequisites, bonus feats•Attributes: Saves, Initiative, base attack, misc. bonuses

Other Details•Spells: Components, spellcraft feats•Equipment: special attributes, magical abilities, masterwork•Animal Companions: HD, spell-like abilities, morale•NPCs: Abilities, backstory•Campaign Notes: History, geography

Data ManagementProblems to

SolveLots of fieldsManaging fields

Compound Fields

Data OutputPrintable Output

Nodes andStandard Fields

Standard Fields•Name: string•Race: string•Class: string•Attributes: integer, bonuses?•Skills: integer, strings•Feats: string, checkboxes•Weapons: ??

Bonuses and Attributes•Name: fine•Race: fine, but affects things like attribute values•Class: different levels for multiclass•Skills: class vs cross-class (half)•Feats: manage prerequisites•Weapons: damage, speed, crit range – compound fields

Standard FieldsAren't EnoughRegardless of the data type

Fields are always name:value pairs

Fields can contain multiple valuesBut not multiple keys

Multiple Values

Multiple

ValuesVerticalbut not

Horizontaldata depth

D&D FieldsCompanion module to D&D Character

Drupal 7 Fields API

Abilities

Multiple valuesnot enough

Names of eachability score

Multi-dimensional or compound values

Compound

FieldsEach field can have different

widgets

Custom fields for different data types

Fields API in3 Easy Steps

Tell Drupal about the field and schemahook_field_infohook_field_schemahook_field_validatehook_field_is_empty

User Inputhook_field_widget_infohook_field_widget_form

Outputhook_field_formatter_infohook_field_formatter_view

Field Widgets

Armor widget is bothhorizontal and vertical

Field Formatters

Field FormatersMay Not Be Enough

Node templates can workFine for on-screen display

Printing forms for recordsHTML and CSS don’t make great

printouts

D&D Character Sheet

What web output works for print?

PDF is the universalonline print document

PC Record Sheets

Storing data is one thingPrintable character record

sheets is key

Drupal andPDF Output

Node templates generate HTML

Can be styled with CSS and HTML

Print module is closestDoesn’t come nearly close enough

Node Data In PDF

Drupal as a Campaign Manager

CMS: Campaign Management System

Blog Pages for previous runs

Standard Pages for NPCs or historical background

Custom content types for artifacts, animal companions, and kingdoms

SummaryFields API for building compound fields

PDF for specific records

Drupal as a CMS manages extra data

Resourcesagileapproach.com/blog-entry/compound-fields-

drupal-7

drupal.org/project/dnd_character

api.drupal.org/api/examples/field_example--field_example.module/function/

field_example_field_info/7

Questions?

Contactthagler@phase2technology 

@phase2tech

d.o: tobby

Slides: AgileApproach.com